Building construction



A. F. BEMIS Sept; 15, 1936.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 28, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E W. 2% kSept. 15, 1936. A, F, BEM|$ 2,054,189

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dem-28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 jrwerziorzZZerZ 22 fier7zl'a Sept. 15, 1936. A F B 2,os4;1s9

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 7 Filed Dec. 28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedSept. 15, .1936

PATENT OFFICE 2.054.189 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Albert F. Bemis, Newton,Mass., assignor to Bemis Industries, Incorporated, Boston, Mass., acorporation of Delaware Application December 28, 1932, Serial No.649,158

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in building construction and moreparticularly to an arrangement of frame members andcooperating partsadapted to permit the rapid erection of walls, such as partition walls,to be employed in oflice buildings and the like.

It is now commonly recognized that the interior partitions in manybuildings, such as office buildings, require rearrangement at frequentintervals to suit the requirements of different tenants. Yarious typesof paneled partitions have been provided which require individualfitting and erection in situ, thus involving considerable expense aswell as tending to disturb the routine of the office where the work isbeing carried on. Accordingly, in some cases much of this work is doneat night with increased labor costs and lower labor efficiency. 1

The present invention affords a framework which essentially comprisessimilar members, e. g. channels, to provide the various frame elementssuch as sills, girts, posts and studs, connecting means being providedto permit the ready connection of these parts to suit substantially anyrequirement, so that a minimum ofspecial cutting and shaping of parts isnecessary to permit a wall of this character to fit within any desiredspace. Preferably the channel elements are provided with rows ofuniformly spaced openings of novel character which not only facilitatethe connection of brackets for joining the frame members to each other,but which also permit the easy connection of preformed paneling members,as well as preformed finishing elements such as baseboard memberscornice, and the like.

In many locations where partitions of this character are desired, thefloor and ceiling surfaces are somewhat uneven rather than beingperfectly planar and horizonta, and it has heretofore been necessary tocut the parts specially to fit the irregularities of such floor andceilings. The present invention affords a partition wherein thehorizontal and vertical members may be accurately located, special meansbeing provided to permit the concealing and covering of irregular jointsbetween the horizontal frame members and the adjoining walls, ceilingsor the like. Furthermore, the frame members may be formed instandardized lengths and the means provided for this purpose may bearranged so that the wall may have a height amounting to some irregulardimension between the even dimensions in which the frame members areprovided. Thus, for example, the frame members may be provided instandard lengths which differ from one another by multiples of a smalluniform dimension such, for example, as two inches, and the uniformlyarranged openings may also be spaced at similar modular distances. Whena wall is erected in accordance with this invention, frame members maybe selected from stock to extend to substantially the desired height,and special coping, and/ or baseboard arrangements may be employed topermit the filling of the spaces between the horizontal members of theframe of standardized height and the ceiling and/or floor. Thus, forexample, the wall, although primarily formed of parts having theirhorizontal and vertical edges accurately located in horizontal andvertical planes, and having dimensions which are an even multiple of adetermined module may in fact have a height amounting to an irregulardimension which may have no definite relation to the module and also thewall may fill a space bounded by a floor or ceiling the surfaces ofwhich are not accurately located in horizontal planes.

One important aspect of the invention pertains to the arrangement of themodularly spaced openings so that they are adapted to permit parts ofthe similar section to be employed in various parts of the frame, asdesired. Thus a stock of the parts suitable for making substantially anydesired size or shape of wall frame may require a comparatively smallnumber of different sizes and types of members. The openings themselvesare arranged to interfit with various types of fastening or connectingelements, for this purpose each being primarily in the form of a roundopening with radial extensions or preferably in the form of crossedslots with a rounded enlargement at the intersection of the slots. Therounded enlargements may receive bolts or similar round fasteningmembers of relatively long diameter, while the slots may receive hookedfastening elements or smaller bolts, screws or the like. Thus, an a Irangement of this character has a wide adamability to use underdifferent conditions, and permits the employment of various convenientfastening arrangements which may be especially advantageous inindividual cases.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a typical wall constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a'broken vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a similar section through a. portion of a slightly differenttype of wall;

Fig. 4 is a broken horizontal section showing onepost arrangement at awall intersection, and

showing the manner in which a door frame or the like may be mounted in awall of this type;

Fig. 5 is a broken isometric view showing a typical connectingarrangement employed between horizontal and vertical frame members andalso showing the manner in which wall panels may be secured to theframework;

Fig. 6 is an isometric detail with parts shown in section illustrating afour-way post assembly;

Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating a two-way post assembly;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional detail showing an assembly of the typeillustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through an optional door frame assemblyarrangement;

Fig. 10 is a section on line II0 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a vertical section through the upper part of a wall showingan optional arrangement for making the wall adjustable to engageceilings of different heights.

, Referring to the accompanying drawings, and first more particularly toFigs. 2, 4 and 5, the frame members are shown in the form of channels ofsimilar cross section, thus the sill I may extend horizontally along thelower part of the wall and may comprise a channel with upstandingparallel legs. In the erection of a wall of this character the sill ispreferably arranged so that it may be horizontal, suitable shims 2 beingemployed for this purpose if the floor affords appreciableirregularities. The studs 3 which are secured to sill I may be in theform of similar channels having the lower ends of their legs restingupon the upper edges of the upstanding legs of the sill. The bightportions and the legs of the channel members may be provided withmodularly spaced openings 5, these openings being arranged in rowsextending longitudinally of the channels, and being uniformly spacedfrom each other. Each opening 5 preferably comprises a central roundedportion 6 with radial slot-like extensions I, four of these slot-likeextensions extending at right angles to each other, with two of theextensions extending in the direction of extent of the frame member, andthe other two extensions being disposed at right angles to this extent.Thus, each of the openings 5 in fact comprises slots having theirmid-portions crossing each other, and having a rounded enlargement atthe region of intersection or crossing of the slots.

The openings 5 are advantageously employed for securing the studs 3 tothe sills I. For this purpose right angular brackets Ill (Fig. 5) may beprovided with openings arranged to register with the enlargements 6 ofthe openings 5 in the bight portion of the sill and in the correspondingportion of the stud. Suitable fastening bolts II are then employed tosecure the bracket to.the bight portions of the stud and sill. Each ofthese bolts II preferably has a shank with a diameter which fits withinthe enlargement 6 of an opening 5, but which will not slide into one ofthe narrower slots orradial extensions I. The girts 8 may have a crosssection similar to that of the studs and sills, and may have openings 5similarly arranged therein, right angled brackets also .being' employedto secure the girts to the studs. 7

The post assemblies which are provided at the corners and/orintersections of walls may in general be built up of channels of thesame general type as are employed for the sills, studs and" girts. Thus,as shown in Fig. 7, the sills I define the lower portions of wallsmeeting at right angles to provide a corner. The channel elements 3which may be similar to the studs and. which may be secured to the sillsin a similar manner are mounted at the ends of the sills l, so thattheir legs lie in planes at right angles to each other. Right angularbrackets I5 may be secured to the bight portions of the verticalchannels 3, these brackets being arranged at intervals along the heightof the channels and being formed of sheet metal to provide planarsections at right angles to each other having a width substantiallycorresponding to the width of the bight portions of channels 3, andhaving inturned flanges I6 at right angles to these planar portions, theflanges I6 however having their outer faces substantially in the planesof the inner faces of the adjoining legs of the channels. A continuousright-angled sheet metal element I8,is welded to the flanges I6, thiselement I8 being provided with openings 5 similar to the openings 5within the channels. Thus, the member I8 may have several of thebrackets I5 welded thereto in spaced relation, and may in effect afforda substantially square filler member to engage the upright channels 3 ofintersecting walls. To permit the facile engagement of such a fillermember with these channels, the planar portions of angle brackets I5preferably are provided with struck-out hooks I9 having dependingportions 20 and necks M, the necks 2| being received in extensions orslots 1 of openings 5 and the depending portion 20 extending below theend of such slots to ensure the firmretention of the filler member inplace.

Figs. 6 and 8 illustrate'a four-way post assembly which may comprise aninner channel member 30 and a cooperating plate 3| which has its edgesjuxtaposed to the inner faces of the legs of channel 30. This plateforms a stiffener for the adjoining channel 3, to which it is secured bysuitable bolts 33. The channel 30 has its legs and bight portionconnected to the other three channels 3 in the remaining three of thefour intersecting walls. These channels may be secured to thecorresponding sills I in the manner already described, but preferably abracket of channel cross section is employed, such a. bracket 35 beingillustrated more particularly in Fig. 6 and having substantiallytriangular side portions 36 integral with bight portions 31 which aredisposed in planes at right angles to each other and meet at the cornerof the bracket. The bight portions 31 are provided with openings toreceive fastening bolts 38 to engage the corresponding bight portions ofthe sill channels I and to receive similar fastening elements forconnection with therbight portions of the upright channels 3, or thesides or legs of channel 30 or the stiffening plate 3|. The sides 36 ofthese brackets are provided with openings similarly to engage fasteningelements for connection with the openings 5 in the legs of channels Iand 3. As shown in this form of the invention, the sills I may be cutoil so that they do not extend to the area of intersection of the walls,but so that their ends abut the legs of the upright channels which restupon or are juxtaposed to the floor. The channels 3 at each side of anddirectly adjoining the stiffening plate 3| and the channel 3 which,isdirectly secured to that plate.

When a door-opening or the like is to be provided in the wall, studs 3support the door jamb elements and frame members. Thus, as shown in Fig.4, metal plates having inturned hook elements 46 may be received in thedownwardly projecting extensions of certain of the openings 5 in thelegs of a channel 3, the plates 45 carrying spring or resilient elements41 which have outwardly inclined end portions 48 with inwardly curvedextremities 49. Channel brackets 50 are secured by screw bolts 5| to thebight portion of the, channel 3, these bolts preferably having shanks ofa diameter to be received in the central portions of the modularlyspaced openings 5. Preferably the channel brackets 50 are welded tochannel-like door jamb members 53 which form the vertical elements ofthe door frame that may be connected by a suitable lintel or horizontalelement. The sheet metal frame elements 54 may have a transverse lintelelement 54 connected thereto, Fig. 1, and have inwardly extendingflanges 55 with inturned extremities 56 that are snapped under the endsof resilient members 41 so that the members 54 are retained, withflanges 56, in engagement with the legs of jamb member 53 and withopposite inturned flanges 56 in engagement with a finish panel 60.

The finish panels 60 may be secured to the frame in any suitable manner,but preferably an arrangement such as is shown in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 516,894, filed February 19, 1931, may beemployed. As more fully disclosed and described in that application, keystrips 6! may be provided with metal backing plates 8| having inwardlyextending hooks 62 to engage suitable openings in the frame members,these key strips being effective in holding the rabbeted main panels 60in place. The frame construction which is disclosed herein isparticularly advantageous when employed with a fastening arrangement ofthis character, since the openings 5 readily receive the hooked elements62. In certain cases, as for example, a three-way post assembly, theframe elements or vertical channels may be connected after the finishpanels 60 are assembled upon one of the walls. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4,the channel 3 may be a conventional stud of the type previouslydescribed, while the channel 3 may be of similar form, but may have anelongate hooked extension 10 to extend between the ends of panels 60 ofthe wall, wherein the channel 3 is located. The bight portion of thechannel 3 engages the rabbeted faces of the panels 60 and this channelin turn provides legs which are connected to the keying strips 6| of itswall, in the manner already described. Obviously a three-way postassembly of this type may be modified to afford a four-way assemblymerely by providing two of the channels 3 connected to an intermediatechannel 3 and by suitably associating the wall panels therewith. Beforethe panels 60 are located upon the framework, I may connect elongatehorizontally extending supporting elements 15 to the lower parts of theupright channels 3 (Fig. 2). As shown, these elements 15 may be providedwith integral inturned hooks 16 to engage extensions of openings 5 inthe studs, and each of these elements may have an outstanding ledge 11with outer vertical flanges 18. The ledge and flange cooperate to afforda recess in which the lower edge of panel elements 60 and GI may bereceived. Thus, the panel elements have their lower edges spaced abovethe sill I, and since the sill I is always arranged in a horizontalplane, the edges 'of the panels are disposed so that they extendvertically and horizontally, irrespective of irregularities in thefloor.

To permit this arrangement and yet to permit the baseboard assemblyeffectively to contact the floor, for example, despite the employment ofshims 2, I provide a finish strip in the form of a sheet metal channelwhich has its bight portion resting on the floor which need not beexactly parallel to, or in the plane of, the bight portion of channel 3,and the member 80 has its inner leg secured in face-toface'engagementwith the outer face of channel I. For this purpose resilient elements 82are provided'havi'ng inverted U-shaped portions 83 to clamp theadjoining legs of the member 89 and the sill I' in firm engagement. Themember 82 also has an upwardly inclined portion 84 with its endjuxtaposed to the upper edge of the outer leg of finishing strip 80. Abaseboard member 85 is formed of sheet metal, and its upper part,isprovided with a depending flange 89, which is received between theflange 18 of the elongate strip 11 and the faces of the paneling members60. The body portion of the sheet metal member 85 is disposed betweenthe outer leg of finish strip 80 and the outer end of spring portions 84of clips 82, these spring portions cooperating with the edge of the legof member 89 in holding the sheet metal body portion of the baseboard'85in place. Due to this arrangement relative sliding between the members80 and 85 may take place as indicated by the dot and dash linepositioning of the members 80 shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the membe'rs 80 mayrest upon the floor, although that portion of the floor may besubstantially below the sill I and may be inclined slightlyinrelation'to the sill. It is, of course, understood that the members 80are provided in lengths which may be varied so that these members may bearranged slightly out of alignment to conform to floor irregularities.

At the upper portion of the wall, I may provide an arrangement whichpermits the wall to have a variable height, not only to permit the'wallreadily to be erected in rooms having ceilings at different heightsabove the floor, but also to permit the wall readily to accommodateitself to irregularities in the ceilings. To this end, a continuouschannel member 90 has its bight portion secured upon the bightportion'of the girt 8 by fastening means 9|, and has legs 93 which havea height, for example, greater than that of the spacing of holes 5, andgreater than thedifference between lengths of the channels 3 which areselected from stock when the frame is assembled. A channel 94 may besecured by bolts, screws, or the like, 95 to the ceiling, and has awidth such that it is in telescoping engagement with the upper portionof channel 90. Thus, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, thechannel 94 may contact only the upper portion of legs 92 of channel 90,or may be disposed at a somewhat lower position within this channel. Itis evident that the channels'90 and'94 cooperate with the frameworkbuilt up of the similar stock channels to comprise a frame which extendsbetween the floor and ceiling. Secured to the outer faces of legs 93 ofchannel 90 are the resil icnt elements 91 which have spring clipextensions 98 engaging under inturned flanges 99 upon the legs of finishmembers I00 of channel cross section. Thus, the members I00 may besnapped into place. Sheet metal cornice members I0! and as indicated bythe full and dot and dash lines of Fig. 2. Thus the channels 94 and 80cooperate to provide a sliding joint in the structural portion of thewall so that this portion may 7 be readily arranged between ceilings andfloors of different heights, while the members I and IOI perform asimilar function in the finish portion of the wall; In order to concealthe joints between the paneling members 80 and BI and the finish stripsI00, depending angle members I may be secured to the lower legs of'thefinish members I00, as shown.

Fig. 3 illustrates an arrangementwhich may be employed when panelmembers III] are to be arranged above the main wall structure. In thisembodiment of the invention the uprights or studs 3 and the girt 8 maybe arranged in the same manner as previously described, the panels 80also being mounted upon the sides of the main framework in the samegeneral manner. Secured to the bight portion of girt 8 by bolts III is-achannel member II2 having outstanding flanges II3 upon its legs.Brackets II4 of channel-like cross section have their lower legs securedupon .the bight portion of member II2 bycertain of the bolts III, thusproviding horizontally disposed upper legs I I5 which support thechanneled intermediate portion II'I of a metal cover plate II8, thischanneled portion receiving the lower edge of panel I I0 which isprovided with suitable vertical and upper horizontal, channeled frameelements I20 and I2I respectively. The outwardly extending planarportions of member 8 are connected by fastening elements I23 such asscrews, to the inturned flanges of coping or molding members I25 whichmay be formed of sheet metal and which have depending portions coveringthe upper edges of panels 80. Z-shaped elements I29. secured to themembers I25 between the upper and lower edges provide horizontal anddepending portions which engage the flanges H3 of channel H2 and theadjoining inner surfaces of its legs.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate an optional arrangement for securing a metaldoor frame 200 to a wall channel 3. For this purpose the door frame maybe formed of sheet metal and be provided with inturned flanges which arethreaded to receive screws 20I securing vertically spaced plates 202 tothe door frame. Vertical slots 204 may be provided in the plates 202 topermit slight adjustment of these parts to compensate for irregularitiesin floor level. The plates 202 are thus positioned at such a height thatscrews 205 extending therefrom may engage horizontal slots I in openings5 in the bight portion of a channel 3, it being understood that inpractice the plates 202 are first connected to the channel and then thedoor frame 200 is securedto the plates 202 by screws 20I. The finishmembers 54 are then secured to the, sides of the channel 3 in the samemanner as described with reference to Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 illustrates an optional arrangement for.

adjustably connecting the upper end of a wall assembly, includingchannels 3, to ceilings at different heights. For this purpose bolts 220extending through openings 5 in the upper end of the bight portion ofthe channel 3 may clamp a connecting angle 224 to the channel, thisangle being provided with an elongate vertical slot 225 to permitvertical adjustment. The upper end of the angle is received in a channelor member I,

208 which may be of the same form as the girt 8 in Fig. 2. The panels 80may engage the sides of the vertical channels 3 in the manner alreadydescribed and extend upwardly into engagement with the faces of thechannel 208. A flat strip 221 may be secured between the channel 208 andthe ceiling 228, and resilient clips 230 may be connected by screws 232to the ends of strips 229, the clips 230, being arranged to engage sheetmetal cornice members 2'3I. It is evident that this arrangement permitsthe adjustable spacing of the girt or channel 208 as well as the cornicemembers 23Iin relation to the upper ends of stud members or channels 3.

It is evident that this invention affords a constructional arrangementpermitting the facile erection of walls, and more particularly partitionwalls of the type that are commonly employed in oilice buildings. Suchwalls may be constructed with their essential frame members selectedfrom a stock of standardized lengths and with the finish elements suchas panels, baseboards, cornices and the like quickly and readilyattached, without necessity for special cutting and accurate shaping insitu. Furthermore, walls constructed in accordance with this inventionafford two thicknesses of paneling with a hollow space therebetween,thus giving substantially sound deadening qualities. A relatively,smooth continuous wall surface is afforded in contrast to theconventional ofllce partitions with the frequent pilasters and numerousirregularities which tend to collect dust. A wall of this character mayreceive a wide variety of finishes such, for example, as V paint, paper,craftex, or even plaster. more, a hollow wall of this type evenfacilitates the arrangement of lighting cables or other conduits.Similarly the door frames and the finish for the same may be quicklyapplied due to the arrangement of the novel openings and the hookedextensions upon these elements. Although the wall and ceiling may not bedisposed exactly in a horizontal planeor may not be exactly planar, themain frame members may be arranged sothat they extend accurately inhorizontal and vertical directions respectively and so that thecorresponding edges of the panelsare similarly located, the arrangementof the baseboard and cornice assemblies permitting the adjustment of thewall to properly extend between floors and ceilings all portions ofwhich are not exactly parallel.

Certain modular relationships which are disclosed in the presentapplication are more fully discussed and are claimed in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 69,867, filed March 20, 1936f Furthergenerallyround central portions with slots extending radially therefrom and atright angles to each other.

2. An elongate metal frame member for building construction, comprisinga plate section having a plurality of openings thereinspacedlongitudinally of the member, said openings being in the form ofcrossed slots, with a generally round enlargement at the intersection ofthe slots." I

3. A building construction comprising a frame defining a wall andincluding primary frame members extending along the ends of the wall andother primary frame members extending therebetween, secondary framemembers extending between the last-named members. each of said membersincluding channels of similar cross section, said channels beingprovided with similar rows of openings spaced uniformly, said openingsbeing in the form of crossed slots with round enlargements at theintersections of the slots, said openings being provided in the bightportions and opposite legs of the channels.

4. Building construction comprising a wall including vertical andhorizontal frame members of similar channeled cross section, panelssecured to the vertical members, and said panels having their loweredges spaced from the bottom of the wall, an elongate element extendingalong the wall and providing a recess receiving the lower ends of thepanels, a sheet metal baseboard member having a flange engaging saidelement, said baseboard members extending downwardly from the region ofsaid element, a finish channel slidably having an outer leg concealingand engaging the lower part of the said baseboard member to permit theprovision of an irregular joint between said member and the floor, andspring clips securing the inner leg of the finish channel to the silland pressing the lower part of the baseboard member against its outer l5. Building construction comprising a wall ineluding a sill, a girt andvertical members extending therebetween, panels secured to the verticalmember, said panels having their lower edges disposed above the lowerends of the vertical members, a sheet metal baseboard member having adepending flange portion overlapping the lower portion of the panels andhaving a depending body portion with its lower margin spaced outwardlyof the sill, a finish channel having an inner leg secured against thesill and having an outer leg overlapping the lower margin of thebaseboard member, a channel supported by the girt and an upper channelsecured above the girt in interfitting relation with the first-namedchannel, the finish channel and the interfitting channels providingmeans at the lower and upper parts of the wall respectively to permitadjust ment of the wall to extend between floor and ceiling surfaceswhich may be out of parallelism with each other.

6. Building construction comprising a, wall including a sill, a girtand. vertical members extending therebetween, panels secured to thevertical members, said panels having their lower edges disposed abovethe lower ends of the vertical members, a sheet metal baseboard memberhaving a depending flange overlapping the lower portions of the panelsand having 2, depending body portion with its lower margin spacedoutwardly of the sill, a finish channel having an iner leg securedagainst the sill and having an on er leg overlapping the lower margin ofthe baseboard member, a channel supported by the girt, an upper channelsecured above the girt in interfitting relation with the first-namedchannel, the finish channel and the interfitting channels providingmeans at the lower and upper parts of the wall respectively to permitadjustment of the wall to extend between fioor and ceiling surfaceswhich may be out of parallelism with each other, a finish memberextending along one leg of the channel which is supported by the girt,spring clips secured to said channel and holding the finish member inplace, and a sheet metal cornice element secured to the upper channeland having a depending portion in slidable overlapping engagement withthe finish member, whereby the height of the finish portion of the wallmay be adjustably varied to conform to the height of its structuralportion.

7. Building construction comprising a wall including a girt, a lowerchannel having its bight portion secured to the girt and havingupstanding legs, an upper channel secured above the girt in interfittingand slidable engagement with the first-named channel, whereby thestructural portion of the wall may have a variable effective height,said upper channel having outstanding flanges connected to a ceilingportion, spring clips projecting from the flanges, a sheet metal cornicemember having an inturned flange engageable between the spring clips andthe ceiling portion, said cornice member having a depending portionspaced outwardly of the lower channel, spring clips secured to the outerface of the lower channel, a finish member having inwardly extendingflanges with inturned extremities engageable between the ends of saidspring clips and the outer face of the lower channel, the dependingportion of the cornice member having a sliding overlapping engagementwith the outer face of the finish member.

8. Building construction comprising a wall including frame members,panels having hooked portions engageable with openings on opposite sidesof the frame members, a baseboard member movable into frictionalengagement with the panels and an elongate member secured to theframework and effective in thus holding the baseboard member against thepanels, finish members arranged adjoining the upper part of the framemembers and including a sheet metal coping member and a cooperatingmember in slidable overlapping engagement therewith, and resilientspring clip means to secure the finish members to the frame members.

ALBERT F. HEM IS.

